Telephony



(No Model.) Y 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

W. BRUENING. y

TELEPHONY. No. 485,859. PatentedNov. 8, 1892.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. BRUIJNING.

(No Model.)

TELEPHONY.

Patented Nov. 8, 1892.

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UNTTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE. i

VILLIAM BRUENING, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

TELEPHONY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 485,859, dated November8, 1892. Application tiled August l, 1891. Serial No. 401,373. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM BRUENING, a citizen of the United States,residing in the township ot' East Orange, in the county of Essex andState of Now Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement inApparatus for Transmitting Sound-Vibrations, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to an apparatus for transmittingr sonorousvibrations to or from a telephone, a phonograph, or other acousticinstrument, and has for its object to provide a sensible and eiiicientapparatus for transmitting sound, whereby the force of soundvibrationsdoes a greater amount of work in exerting stress and to make soundreproduced from the aforesaid instruments more audible and distinct; andit consists in balancing three or more movable inflexible surfaces ordashers in contact with a confined iiuid by means of externally-appliedtension, in regulating such tension by variable pressure upon the Huid,in attaching such dashers to the point of greatest resilience of two ormore diaphragms, both surfaces of which vibrate in communication withthe surrounding air, in arranging the diaphragms and dashers to make theapparatus reversible, and in imi provements which will furthersufficiently appear in connection with the further description of theapparatus or art and method of Operation to follow andin the claimsannexed hereto.

I attain the objects of my invention by the means set forth anddescribed in this specilication, and illustrated in the accompanying twosheets of drawings, in which- Figure l is a vertical sectional view cuton the line l l, Fig. 2, and shows in sectional View the sound-conveyer,diaphragms, dashers, air-spaces, chambers, tension-spring, and otherassociated parts. Fig. 2 is a similar View cut on the line 2 2, Fig. l,showing in sectional View the sound-conveyer, the central air-space inwhich it rests, and the lower air-chamber and dasher with the associatedparts. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View showing four diaphragmsarranged to concentrate tlieir action upon the single diaphragm orvibrating body. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 represent detail parts; and Fig. 7 isa Vertical sectional View of the apparatus connected with a telephone.Fig. 8 shows the dashers P P in reversed proportions.

Similar letters represent similar throughout the iigures.

Bis a frame consisting of a rigid hollow vessel of any suitable form orconstruction, having three or more openings in its walls, which arehermetically closed by movableinflexible surfaces and their iiexibleconnections, Which I term dashers.7 The vessel contains a fluid whichmay be either liquid or gaseous, and is provided withpreferably-circular frames for holding two or more diaphragms.

In the drawings the vessel containing the fluid is represented by thewalls of the chambers C C and C and the connecting-tubes T T. Theopenings O of the chambers C O are closed by dashers P P, which areconstructed of a plate or plates of rigid material, and are connected attheir edges with the walls of the chambers by means of a narrow band ofrubber, cloth, or other flexible fabric, (shown at lV NVJ and theopening of the chamber C is closed by the screw-cap K', which carriesthe dasher P and its flexible connecting material W', and which is madeand attached in the same manner as the dashers P.

D D are diaphragms of any usual construction or material, and are heldat their edges by washers or frames in the frame B, with air-spaces A AA2 on both sides, which communicate with the outer air through openingsin the frame, as H and E E in Fig. 1, which form the mouth of asound-conveyer provided externally with a shoulder or flange to supporta horn or tube. The sound-conveyer may be extended into the air-spacebetween tlie diaphragms, with openings to face and direct the sound onthe center of the diaphragms, as shown at A, Figsfl and 2; but such isnotan absolute necessity. Each dasher P is attached to the center orpoint of greatest resilience of a diaphragm D by a pin or other suitablemeans, and is operated by or in turn operates the diaphragm, and thedasher P is provided with ears, by which it is movably attached to aspring Sby means of a lug thereon, and secured by a pin passing througha hole in the ears and lug, and the other end of the spring is securedto the screw-cap K. The spring S is provided parts IOC) with a socket Syfor attaching a style S2 of a phonograph, or an armature V, or anelectrode of a telephone, or a wire or other soundconductor of anacoustic instrument. The spring S exerts an outward tension on thedasher P, and such tension is proportioned to that exerted on thedashers P by the diaphragms D, so that all the dashers in contact withthe confined fluid are in equipoise. The tension is regulated by ascrew-plug L, which penetrates the wall of the vessel at any feasiblepoint and bears upon the Huid and is located in Fig. 1 in the screw-capK, which closes the other side of the chamber C, and is provided with aWasher or packing to prevent the escape of the fluid. The tension may bediminished by turning the plug L forward into the chamber, by which thedashers are pressed outwardly, or the tension is increased by reversingthe motion of the plug L, whereby the atmospheric pressure will causethe dashers to move inwardly and draw the diaphragms D D and the springS toward them. By these means promptness and delicacy of action of theapparatus are obtained. The chambers C C and C and the connectingtubes TT are filled with air, water, or mercury, or other suitable fluid. Iprefer a liquid on account of its density and relativenoncompressibility, as it prevents a waste of energy. The tiange F isused to secure the apparatus in place, as shown in Fig. 7, in connectionwith a telephone, and may be used to secure the apparatus on thediaphragm-holder of the phonograph in my application, Serial No.377,724, filed January 14, 1891.

In Fig. 3 are shown four diaphragms D, with air-spaces on each sidethereof, connecting with the outer air through openings in the frameforming the mouth of the soundconveyer, and four dashers P, attached tothe centers of the diaphragms and located on opposite sides of thechambers C, while the other arrangements are similar to those alreadydescribed in Figs. l and 2.

In operation when sound is conveyed into the air-spaces on either sideof the diaphragms D by means of an attached horn or tube, or directlythrough the mouth of the sound-conveyer, it causes the vibration of thediaphragms, which vibrations are transmitted from their points ofgreatest resilience to the dashersPconnectedtherewith. Sundryforces soexerted are compounded and transmitted by means of the confined fluid tothe dasher P', whence the force is exerted in increased effective stressby reason of the diminish ed resistance and allows the use of astrongermagnet, or exerts greater pressure on a carbon or other electrode of anelectric circuit in a telephone, or causes a style to bear with greaterpressure on a recording-surface in a phonograph, or exerts greaterstress on the soundconduct-or of an acoustic instrument. When theapparatus is used to reproduce sound in connection with any of theaforesaid instruments, the force of the vibrations transmitted to thedasher P is resolved and transmitted by means of the confined fluid tosundry dashers P, which exert the forces in directions toward each otherand upon the points of least resistance of sundry diaphragms D, whichimpart their vibrations to the air in contact with each of theirsurfaces and thence to the outer air, whereby a more audible anddistinct sound is produced. I-Ieretofore when a confined Huid was usedto transmit soundvibrations from or to movable surfaces in contact withsuch fluid one surface of a fiexible diaphragm was placed in contactwiththe Huid and the other surface was exposed to the air, and the aircaused the vibration of or was vibrated by such surface, the force ofthe vibrations was exerted on parts of such flexible surface whichoffered more or less resistance by its rigidity near its periphery, andwas therefore more or less neutralized, and but a small proportion ofthe expended energy was exerted in actual stress` on or by the uid. 1nthis invention, in using an inflexible balanced surface or dasher incontact with theintermediate confined fluid the Whole surface of suchdasher will lnove and bear on the fluid according to the amplitude andstress ot' the most resilient part of the diaphragm to which it isattached, and the vibrations are transmitted by means of the fluid andcause a correspondingmovement of the whole inflexible surface of theother dasher or dashers in contact therewith, whereby the effectiveproportion of force exerted by the vibrations is considerably increased.

In Figs. l, 2, and 3 the apparatus shown is reversible, and theamplitude of the vibrations is preserved by making the area of thedasher or dashers from which the vibrations are transmitted equal tothat to which they are transmitted. As is well known, the power ofstress may be increased at a loss of amplitude, and is shown in Fig. 8,in which the area of the surface of the dasher P is relatively smallerthan that of the combined areas of the dashers P. This apparatus is usedsolely for reproducing sound, While in an `apparatus for transmitting orrecording sound these conditions may be reversed. The apparatus hereinshown is made with a view to compactness; but when such is not deemedessential the diaphragms need not necessarily be parallel, but may bearranged in a plane or approximately form a hollow or concave surface,and the vessel containing the confined fluid is shaped accordingly. -Ido not restrict vmyself to the means herein shown of confining thediaphragms, and I might also use the dashers P to take the place ofdiaphragms; but I prefer the arrangement shown as being more convenientof construction. It may be desirable When the apparatus is used inconnection with an electrode or With an electrically-heated style toinsulate the spring S', and in that case the screw-cap K and the dasherP and its ears may be'made of hard rubber or other non-conductingmaterial.

ICO

Fig. 4 represents a style of a phonograph exaggerated in size providedwith a threaded nipple for engagement with the socket S.

Fig. 5 shows the construction of a dasher and means whereby it maybesecuredin its chamber and to the diaphragm. The exible material issecu red at its outer edges in a threaded cap or button by spinning orfolding the edges of the button over those of the material, or aseparate strip or ring may be turned in under the shoulder of the buttonand cover and secure the edges of the flexible material, and the inneredge thereof is held between two plates of inflexible material, whichform the dasher and are secured by a pin passing through their center,which also secures the diaphragm by means of shoulders and a thread andnut, or in any other convenient manner, and it is desirable that theexposed part of the flexible material shall be no wider than isconsistent with the free movement of the dasher. Fig. 6 shows thechamber C and part of the connecting-tube, as represented in Fig. 3,arranged to receive the screw-cap and the dasher from opposite sides.The tubes are secured in the chamber C byashort threaded tube or bushingengaging with an internal thread on the tube T and packing at the jointsto make them air-tight or by soldering or cementing them in place. Asthe lines of separation are clearly shown in the drawings, it will notbe necessary to give a further detailed account of the construction ofthe apparatus.

The term dasher, as hereinafter used, signifies an iniiexible surface,held movably in contact with a hermetically-sealed fluid fortransmitting sound-vibrations by means of such fluid to or from asimilar surface or surfaces in contact with such fluid.

I claim as my inventionl. An apparatus for transmittingsound-vibrations, consisting of a closed hollow vessel containing afluid and provided with dashers, which are held movably in contact withsaid fluid, one of which said dashers is provided with a spring and eachof all other said dashers is provided with a diaphragm.

2. In a reversible apparatus for transmitting sound-vibrations, aconfined fluid, in combination with three or more dashers held movablyin contact therewith and two or more parallel diaphragms.

3. In an apparatus for transmitting soundvibrations, a confined fluid,in combination with three or more dashers held movably in contacttherewith and two or more diaphragms.

4. In an apparatus for transmitting soundvibrations, which consists of aclosed hollow Vessel containing fluid and provided with dashers, whichare held movably in contact with said fluid and in equipoise by outwardtension, aplug which bears on said iuid to regulate such tension.

5. In an apparatus for transmitting sound` vibrations, a confined duid,in combination with three or more dashers held movably in contacttherewith, two or more diaphragms, a spring', and a socket or itsequivalent for securing the operative part or attachment of asound-conveying instrument thereto.

IVILLIAM BRUENING.

Witnesses:

JAMES A. SKILTON, EDWARD S. BERRALL.

